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Justine Henin is just two tantalising Australian Open victories away from emulating fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters’ fairytale grand slam comeback.
Standing in her way could be the daunting figure of either Serena or Venus Williams, who are eyeing a family semi-final.
But Jie Zheng and Li Na have other ideas – they are out to trump their celebrated rivals and produce an historic all-Chinese title match.
These are three intriguing scenarios after Henin and Zheng won their quarter-final matches on Tuesday and the Williams sisters set to play for a place in the final four on Wednesday.
Henin will meet Zheng for a berth in the final as she continues her impressive comeback from retirement.
A runner-up to compatriot Kim Clijsters in Brisbane earlier this month, Henin defeated experienced Russian Nadia Petrova 7-6 (7-3) 7-5.
Her win means she is just the third wildcard to reach the semi-final of any grand slam after Zheng at Wimbledon in 2008 and Clijsters at last year’s US Open (which she won).
Zheng blasted her way into the semis with a dominant 6-1 6-3 display against Russian Maria Kirilenko.
In the remaining quarter-finals, top seed Serena Williams meets Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Venus Williams plays China’s Li Na.
The draw raises the prospect of the second Belgian comeback star in six months to return and win a major, after Clijsters’ US victory, or the outside possibility of the first all-Chinese final.
Henin, 27, who announced her retirement in May 2008, is playing her first grand slam since the 2008 Australian Open.
She extended her winning streak over Petrova to 13-2.
Henin won her most recent meeting against the Russian, in Toronto in 2007. She came out of retirement at Brisbane this month and beat Petrova again.
The Belgian said she had never dared to look deep into the draw at this event, saying she was only “curious” to see what unfolded, but is delighted to have come so far.
“It’s much more than I could expect and the dream continues,” Henin said.
She admitted she has been able to draw inspiration from Clijsters’ US Open victory.
“What she did, I admire that a lot because it’s not easy what she did in New York,” she said. “I see it as motivation of course. That means it is possible.
“What she did was just great – that will be a dream for me to do it also, but it’s still one more match before we can talk about a final. I dream of it but I’m not going to change my attitude now.”
Henin has played five tough matches to reach the semis and said it was vital she closed out Tuesday’s game in straight sets.
“It was important that I could finish this match in two sets. The last few days took a lot of energy from me,” she said. “It was important today I wasn’t that long on the court. Even if it was two close sets it wasn’t that physical, so I’m glad about that.”
Zheng will be lining up against one of her favourite players when she clashes with Henin.
“I like her because she is so strong mentally,” Zheng said. “I always enjoy watching her and it’s a tough challenge for me to play her but it’s something I want to do.”
She also said her semi-final appearance and Li Na’s quarter-final effort would be a major boost for tennis in China.
“It’s a big surprise for China,” she said.
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